The most common scams targeting older adults and how they work

Scammers target seniors because they often have savings, own homes, and may be less familiar with current fraud tactics. The schemes fall into a few repeating patterns: someone claims to be from your bank or the IRS and demands immediate payment; a stranger poses as a grandchild in an emergency; a caller offers a prize you never entered; or a website promises to help you claim a government benefit you didn't know existed.

These are not new tricks, but they work because they create pressure. The caller says your account will be frozen. The "grandchild" says they need bail money tonight. The prize notification says you must claim it by Friday. That pressure is the signal that something is wrong. Real banks, real government agencies, and real prize companies do not operate this way.

The financial damage is real. Seniors lose billions annually to fraud. But the loss is not inevitable. Understanding how each scheme works, what it asks you to do, and who you can call to verify the claim stops most of them before money changes hands.

Key Takeaways

  • Legitimate banks, the IRS, and government agencies never call asking for immediate payment, passwords, or personal information over the phone.
  • The most effective defense is a single rule: hang up, call the official number on your statement or bill, and ask whether the call was real.
  • Grandparent scams, tech support scams, and prize scams all rely on creating panic so you act without thinking — recognizing that panic is your warning sign.
  • If you have already sent money, contact your bank or the payment service immediately; some transfers can be stopped within hours.
  • Trusted people in your life — adult children, a financial advisor, or a friend — should know about large requests for money before you act on them.

How to verify a call claiming to be from your bank or the IRS

When someone calls saying they are from your bank or the IRS, do not give them any information and do not stay on the line. Hang up. Then call the number on your bank statement, credit card, or tax return — the number you know is real. Ask whether anyone from that organization just tried to reach you. If the call was real, they will have a record of it. If it was not, they will tell you it was a scam.

Real banks and the IRS do send letters, not calls, when there is a problem with your account or taxes. If they do call, they already have your information — they will not ask you to confirm it. They will not threaten to freeze your account or arrest you if you do not pay immediately. They will not ask you to pay by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. Those are all signs the call is fraudulent.

Write down the caller's name, the number they called from, and what they said they wanted. If you reported it to your bank, keep that record. If you think you gave out personal information, ask your bank to monitor your account for fraud and consider placing a fraud alert with the credit bureaus.

Recognizing grandparent scams and emergency money requests

In a grandparent scam, someone calls claiming to be your grandchild — or a lawyer, bail bondsman, or hospital worker on their behalf — and says there is an emergency. The grandchild was arrested, in a car accident, or is in the hospital. They need money immediately. They ask you not to tell anyone, especially not the parents, because it would embarrass the grandchild or complicate the situation.

This is a scam. Real emergencies do not work this way. A real arrest involves a real bail hearing; a real hospital bills you later, not immediately; a real accident involves police and insurance. And real family members do not ask you to keep emergencies secret from other family members.

If you receive this call, hang up. Call your grandchild directly on a number you know is theirs — not a number the caller gave you. If you cannot reach them, call another family member. Do not send money until you have spoken to the person in person or to a family member who can verify the emergency. The few minutes this takes will stop the scam.

Tech support scams and fake antivirus warnings

You are using your computer when a pop-up appears saying your device has a virus, is infected, or has been hacked. It tells you to call a number immediately or click a link to fix the problem. This is a scam. Legitimate antivirus software does not work this way. Microsoft, Apple, and other real companies do not send pop-ups telling you to call a number.

When you see this pop-up, close your browser completely — use the task manager or force-quit if you have to. Do not click anything on the pop-up itself. Do not call the number shown. If you are worried your device actually has a problem, call your computer manufacturer's real support number, which you can find on their official website or on your device's documentation.

If you already called the number and let someone access your computer remotely, turn off your device immediately and call your bank. Tell them what happened and ask them to watch your account. Change your passwords from a different device. If you gave the caller your banking information or credit card number, contact your bank and credit card company right away.

Prize and lottery scams

You receive a call, email, or letter saying you have won a prize, a lottery, or a sweepstakes. You do not remember entering, but the caller says that does not matter — your name was selected randomly or your entry was found in their records. To claim the prize, you need to pay a fee, provide your banking information, or send a check for taxes.

This is a scam. You cannot win a prize you did not enter. Legitimate lotteries and sweepstakes do not ask winners to pay a fee or tax upfront. If you had actually won something, the organization would contact you through official channels and would never ask for payment before sending the prize.

Do not send money and do not provide banking information. If you want to report the scam, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov, though reporting does not recover money already sent. Delete emails and throw away letters. If the caller has your phone number, they may call again — you can simply hang up.

What to do if you have already sent money

If you realized the call or email was a scam after sending money, act quickly. The faster you report it, the better the chance of stopping the transfer. Contact your bank or the payment service you used — wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency, or check — and tell them you sent money to a scammer. Provide the recipient's name, account number, or address if you have it.

If you sent money by wire transfer or bank transfer, your bank may be able to recall it within hours. If you bought gift cards and gave the codes to someone, contact the gift card company immediately; they may be able to freeze the cards before the scammer uses them. If you sent a check, you may be able to stop payment through your bank, though there is usually a fee.

If you provided your banking information or credit card number, contact your bank and credit card company. Ask them to monitor your account, consider freezing your credit, and watch for unauthorized charges. You can also place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus by calling Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.

Building a defense: steps you can take now

The strongest defense against fraud is a rule you follow every time: if someone calls asking for money, personal information, or immediate action, hang up and call back using a number you know is real. Do this even if the caller seems urgent or angry. Do this even if you think you recognize the voice. Scammers are good at creating pressure; your job is to remove it by hanging up.

Tell trusted people in your life — adult children, a financial advisor, a close friend — about large money requests before you act on them. If someone asks you to keep a money request secret, that is a warning sign. Real family members and real businesses do not ask you to hide financial decisions from people who care about you.

Register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov. This does not stop all scam calls, but it reduces them. Be cautious about giving your phone number to websites, stores, or services unless you trust them. Scammers buy lists of phone numbers and use them to target people.

Consider setting up your phone to block unknown callers. Most smartphones have this feature built in. You can also ask your phone company about call-blocking services. These tools do not catch every scam call, but they reduce the number you receive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I think I recognize the caller's voice?

Scammers can sound convincing, and your brain wants to believe it is someone you know. Hang up anyway and call the person back on a number you know is theirs. A real family member will not be upset that you verified the call. A real bank will have a record of trying to reach you.

Is it safe to give my Social Security number to someone who says they are from the government?

No. Real government agencies already have your Social Security number. They will not call asking you to confirm it. If a caller claims to be from Social Security, Medicare, or the IRS and asks for your number, it is a scam. Hang up and call the agency directly using the number on your official documents.

Can I get my money back if I sent it to a scammer?

It depends on how you sent it and how quickly you report it. Wire transfers and bank transfers can sometimes be stopped within hours. Gift card codes usually cannot be recovered once used. Checks can sometimes be stopped if you act within days. Contact your bank or payment service immediately — waiting makes recovery less likely.

What if the scammer has my address or knows details about my life?

Scammers buy lists that include names, addresses, phone numbers, and sometimes family member names. Having this information does not make them legitimate. Use the same rule: hang up, call back using a number you know is real, and verify the claim. Do not assume someone is trustworthy because they know where you live.

Who can I call if I want to report a scam?

You can report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. You can also report it to your state's attorney general office or to local police. Reporting does not recover money, but it helps law enforcement track patterns and warn others.